Legislation on Chemicals – An Introduction

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All types of products are subject to chemical regulations. This includes chemical products such as acetone, cleaning products, weed killers and insect repellents. But also furniture, toys, electronics, jewelry and other goods are subject to chemical regulations. It is your responsibility as a manufacturer, importer or seller to ensure that your products comply with the rules. This applies whether you sell the products in a physical store or via e-commerce.

Is my product a chemical product or an article?

In chemicals legislations, there is made a difference between articles and chemical products. Articles are things such as toys, clothing, batteries, furniture, and electronics. Packaging is also defined as an article. Things considered as chemical products are products such as glue, paint, detergents, and chemical pesticides.

Most pesticides are chemical products. They are regulated by specific rules for pesticides and, most often, you must also get an authorisation by us at the Swedish Chemicals Agency for you to allowed to sell and to use them.

There are also rules on, so called, biotechnical organisms. A biotechnical organism is a product manufactured as a pesticide or another technical purpose, containing living microorganisms, nematodes, insects, or arachnids.

It is important for you to find out what is true for the product you intend to sell. Have in mind that different chemical products and articles are often regulated by several different rules at the same time.

Rules on chemical products

If you are to manufacture, import or sell a chemical product, you are responsible for knowing what chemicals regulations that apply and making sure that the products conform to these rules. The rules are intended for your products to be safe to handle, both for the one using them and for the environment. Due to this, you must inform about any hazardous properties of the product by marking on the packaging and in a safety information sheet for professional customers. You might also have to report your business to the Swedish Product Register.

Read more about the legislation on chemical products (in Swedish)

Rules on chemicals in articles

All articles contain chemicals and are subject to chemicals legislations. This is also true for everyday things such as clothing, toys, tools, and electronics. The rules are intended for your articles to be safe, both for the one using them and for the environment.

If you are to manufacture, import or sell articles, you are responsible for knowing what chemicals regulations that apply and making sure that your articles conform to these rules. Which rules that apply depends on what type of article it is and what chemical substances it contains. Sometimes, it regards forbidden substances or not permitted over certain dosages, or it could be substances about which you have to inform your customers when your article contains them.

Read more about the legislation on articles (in Swedish)

Pesticides – plant protection products and biocides

Mosquito repellents, disinfectants, and weed killers are all examples of different pesticides. Plant protectional products are pesticides intended for protecting plants or plant products, meanwhile biocidal products are all other pesticides.

If you are to sell or use a pesticide in Sweden, it first must be authorised by the Swedish Chemicals Agency.

Read more about the legislation on pesticides (in Swedish)

Rules on common groups of products

Different products and articles are often subjects to several different legislations at the same time. They might also be regulated by rules governed by other authorities than the Swedish Chemicals Agency.

Read more about Rules on common products (in Swedish)

Is your business based online?

If you are selling articles, chemical products or pesticide through e-commerce, you have the same responsibilities as a regular store regarding making sure the products conform to the requirements stated in rules and regulations of chemicals. Depending on from where you are buying your products, you might be defined as an importer according to the law.

Read more about what applies if you are selling articles, chemical products or pesticides online (in Swedish)

What applies for Junior Achievement Companies?

If you are studying the Junior Achievement Company Programme at high school in Sweden, you have the same responsibilities as other companies when making sure that your articles and products conform to the legislations on chemicals.

Read more about what applies if you are a Junior Achievement company (in Swedish)

Most rules apply throughout the EU and EEA

Most regulations of chemicals apply throughout the EU as well as Iceland, Lichtenstein, and Norway, the three latter also known as the European Economic Area (the EEA). There are also some chemicals rules which are valid only in Sweden.

Go to the different legislations

Find more guidance and support on complying with chemicals rules (in Swedish)

Your responsibility is decided by your role in the supply chain

What role you have in the supply chain also decides what demands that applies to you. Overall, the demands are more extensive if you are manufacturing or importing a product or an article from outside the EEA, compared to if you are distributing a product from a supplier based in Sweden or a country within the EEA.

Read more about the rules on chemicals based on your role in the supply chain

Rules governed by other authorities

Several other authorities are responsible for rules on chemicals in Sweden, such as rules about chemical risks at the workplace, rules on waste and rules on certain types of products such as cosmetical products.

Read more about the responsibilities of different authorities (in Swedish)

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